EnquirerVote fact check: Taxes

Cranley says he lowered property rates

Aug. 13, 2013

Cranley kick-off Metro Wednesday February 20, 2013: Candidate for Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley speaks to supporters during his kicks off mayoral campaign at the 20th Century Theater Wednesday February 20, 2013 in Oakley. The Enquirer/ Joseph Fuqua II / The Cincinnati Enquirer

Written by

Jane Prendergast

Claim: I reduced property taxes every year as chairman of City Council’s finance committee (2001-2009)

Where, when: In an online chat with Cincinnati.com last week.

Facts: He’s talking about council’s rollback, which annually set the property tax millage at whatever rate generated the same almost $29 million a year for the general fund. The millage did go down in those years, in part because it was pre-recession and property values were going up. Property owners might have paid more taxes, despite the lower millage, if their property values went up.

Cranley’s opponent, Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls, has advocated for increasing the millage to the maximum, saying continuing to roll it back takes away the city’s ability to take advantage of growth in its property values.